The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-01

that she cried over after he was gone
but l do not know what she did with it."
The paper had never been found.
At first John Hallets feelings with re-
gard to it had been OF angry surprise.
He was the elder brother and had always
resided at the Copse. With the approba-
tion OF his parents he had brought his
bride here, and his children were born
under the roof he had come to look upon
as his own.
He did not deliberately scheme to
wrong his brother, but he never I de
any search for the paper Of which Lis
beth had spoken.
And so years had rolled on without
anyone disputing with John Hallett his
possession of the home so dear to him.
LiSbeth made no further allusiOn to the
paper. She knew that Master Tom was
dead, and was not aware that it might
have been of Importance to his widow
and offspring.
And now. after all this lapse Of time,
the children OF John Hallet's dead
brother had come to England. For what
could it be he asked agitatedly, but to
claim their own2
John Hallet started for town oppressed
with a new fear. Lisbeth might have
found the paper, and, suspecting him of
foul play, posted 1t to Canada.
How he got through the day no one
knew, for Henry pleaded headache
and stayed at home.
The disappointed youth would not risk
cncountcring his newly found relatives
while he was unable to account 20 them
for his fathers extraordinary refusal to
receive them at the Copse.
Mrs. Hallet's sympathies were with
her son, but she was too dutiful a
wife to say so, and seeing that she
avoided him. Henry carried a book
into the shrubberieS, stunning the eyes
of his elder sisters, who, for lack of any
other reason for his depression, decided
that he must have fallen In love.
And so he had. Already his heart had
gone out to bright, capable, brOwn-haired
Nell
At last he went indoors to find his
mother. He hurried to the morning
room and had entered it frcl TIC
garden, before he became aw-rc that
the maid was ushering in somo visito:5
It was too late to retreat, thCy Gre
actually in the room, Nell and : in
gazing around them with shy pleasure,
and Miss Mary Hallet, her broad I-cc
bcaming with smiles as she c&U5,-t I'D
Of her sistcr-in-law's hands, and kissed
her on both checks.
Ny dearest Jennie I have brought
these dear Girls to spend few days With
yOu-pOor Toms daU rhters"
Mr.. HGllct by greet effort composed
himself sufficiently to meet his ruC-.5.
but if his lips were pale and no iu-0cl
away from them to shade his CyC5 r.--l
his hand, they saw nothing suspicious
in it,
On the contrary, their conviction that
he was thinking of their father, OF whom
this gray-haired, stately gentleman was
the living image, drew them towards
him. They hOvcred near his chair, they
left of speaking when they heard his
voice, and, when complaining Of fatigue
he rose to go TO his room, moved by the
same impulse, both girls ran forward to
put their arms about his necks and hold
up their fair young faces for a good
night kiss.
It was plain that he had been mistaken
when he faHcicd they had come TO wrest
his home from him, but he was none
the happier for the knowledge. He tried
TO appear calm and cheerful To respond
TO the affection with which his uicces
were disposed to regard him but when
they talkcl--1s they did ir"clE-of the
trials and struggles they aud their
mother Lad gone through hrTora and
after heir Bereavement. his heart .uiI,-d
within hiHs. and his remoT.-c would be-
com" 0ycrVoN cTinG.
John Hallet would fain have made
atOHrucut. lie thrust into ErlI's hand
a roll of notes; but it was promptly re-
turned.
No. he was not to be allowed TO gloze
his conscience 10y this kind or cOmpeusa-
ton. Neither was II any use protesting
that the very act of leaving the Cupse
away from him-the eldest son-was
unfair. a. pcrially as Toms portion had
been Justly mctcd out to him at his own
desire. As long as Toms daughters
were in his house. keeping alive the old
rccollcctiuu~. how could he be at peace
with himao!I3
Four days clapsed-anxious ones to
Henry and his mother, who watched
Mr. Hauct'- changing moods. but hesI-
tatcd to speak of them even TO each
othcr-yct very pleasant ones to the
Young Canadians. AttTibutmg to their
uucIe'S ilI-health the shadow they saw
on his brow. and the troubled looks his
wife and son would interchange, they
We're always gentle and. sympathetic.
1t was the only check on their enjoy
ment of their visit to their English rela-
tions. Aunt Mary, in spite OF her fid-
getty ways, was n lovahle old lady. Mrs.
Hailet was very motherly; and as for
Peurv. ah, Nell would sigh whenever
she reminded herself how soon their stay
in England would draw to a close.
One morning the sisters were on their
way to the garden, when they saw
Lisbeth in the act of unlocking the door
OF the closed chamber.
They passed into it with her. Eliza
beth opened tall press and shook out
before them the folds of their grand
mothers wedding gown.
As she described her mistress Nell saw
that from the pocket of the dress a NOR
sci of the bridal handkerchief was peep
ing To get better view of the fine old
lace that bordered It, she drew it out,
and with 1t came a folded paper.
"Ah :" cried Lisbeth, lit IS the one
my good master gave to her before he
died. She must have gone to the press
and slipped 1t into the pocket Of this
dress, instead of her ordinary ono; they
hung together then. Take it, young
ladies 1 believe, nay, but l am sure, 1t
concerns your father"
Mr. Hallet was just sitting down to break
fast when Nell and Min came to his
side with the paper.
I'VE have not opened It, dear uncle;
1t is you who should read 1t to US. Per
haps it was to let my father know that
his parents had quite forgiven him for
leaving them. He used to say he had
not acted well when he deserted
them"
But John Hallet pushed the paper
from him.
The hand Of God Is in this" he
groaned. Read for yourselves, and
ease my soul of the burden that lies
heavily upon 1t. Llsbeth told me there
was such paper in existence, but my
search for it was a haIf-hearted one. 1
valued my home more than what Is
right, but IL I am to lose it / will bear
the loss without murmuring, for l have
had greater mercies bestowed on me
than deserve"
Mrs. HaIlet drew nearer, and laid her
cheek against her husbands, while Min
read the lines the paper contained:
Il have thought over your wish dear
wife; It is hard to say you nay; but 1
cannot let compassion for Tom make me
unjust to his brother. Do you know
that If John had not toiled early and late
at the time OF that terrible crisis, we
must have been ruined7"